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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Portraiture

Prairie was lucky enough to have our friends (the incomparable Joe + Jill) come out to the barn and take a few pictures. Joe and Jill are fabulous people, fabulous friends and fan-ta-bu-lous photographers. They did our wedding (and made the whole thing look even more magical) but have never shot horses before. A few months ago they asked if I would be willing (willing!) to let them come snap some pics of Prairie and stretch their skills and portfolio a little outside their norm.

Obviously I jumped at the chance to be guinea pigs. Prairie was a snorting monster, Joe and Jill's two (adorable) kids had a blast scampering around the property and all in all we had a good time. They wanted to play with their light a lot so we stuck to portraits which were easier to accomplish while trying to keep the big soft lights from tipping over in the mud. Not exactly their normal studio shoot... :)

Prairie was great about the flashes and looming lights and only tried to eat a camera lens a couple of times (whoops). Here's a few of my favorites (one already being the new banner). I love how goofy Prairie looks in some of them. Though we look down right classy in a couple shots if I do say so myself.

New Kid

Windsor is a 2008 Selle Francais who we brought home in late 2015. Previously he was an approved stud and made the rounds (slowly) at 1.40m. With his chill brain and cute jump we're hoping he'll enjoy learning how to do the Hunters.

Windsor

Windsor

The Big Mare

Prairie is a 2005 Elite Hanoverian Mare (Londonderry/Weltmeyer). She's had two beautiful babies and early success in the Dressage Ring, followed by our foray into the Hunters. Now retired, she is back to making babies, first one scheduled for 2017!

Prairie

Gus!

Gus is a fan favorite. An older Trakhaner with DDFT injury that sidelined him from his H/J career, he is a noble gentleman who is worth his weight in gold. After some love, rehab and lots of kisses, Gus moved on to his forever home in MI where he has a beautiful farm to call home and a girl to shove him full of treats.

Pia

Pia is a 2003 Hungarian Warmblood who reintroduced me to horse ownership as an adult. We spent four years together exploring everything from Dressage, to Mountain Trail, to a false Wobbler's Diagnosis and beyond. She's a very clever mare and is currently learning how to event with her new mom.

Cliff Notes:

This blog started as a record of treatments, setbacks and general adventures with Pia, my little red mare back in 2010.

In late 2011, Prairie joined the team, with the idea of being the horse to get me back in the show ring. Initially I was pretty sure this would be the Dressage Ring, but both of us stumbled into Hunter Land and had a great time exploring a new discipline together, ultimately finding lots of success.

Gus showed up in early 2013. We adopted him hoping to find a suitable job and he has since found a forever home and girl of his on in MI!

Windsor is the current main man. a 2007 Selle Francais, he jumped around the 1.40m in Europe but was a little...slow. So now he's trying his hand at the Hunters and helping me learn how to move up.

About Me

These days I seem to spend most of my time working a little and playing a lot. I value my time with good friends spent in restaurants, bars, boutiques and everything else a decent sized city has to offer. I cherish knowing a city inside and out almost as much as I enjoy escaping it to someplace with no cars and hardly any people. Horses take up a chunk of time, as does coaching.. It's a good life.